Ecommerce Conversations
Ecommerce Conversations is the long-running weekly podcast from Practical Ecommerce, hosted by ecommerce entrepreneur Eric Bandholz. •• Listen in as Eric interviews in-the-trenches founders and executives who address the essentials of launching, growing, and sustaining an online business. Hear their successes, mistakes, and plans — addressing customer acquisition, web traffic, marketing tactics, on-site conversion, shipping, favorite tools, funding, obstacles, and much more. •• New episodes every Friday. Subscribe to the podcast here, and then read a condensed transcript at https://www.PracticalEcommerce.com/tag/podcasts.
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EcomFuel Founder on 2026 Industry Trends
<p>For years EcomFuel has surveyed its community of ecommerce merchants about their growth, margins, tactics, and more. The company released this year's findings last week.<br/><br/>In this episode, founder Andrew Younderian recaps the report, addressing the state of ecommerce among 300 participating businesses — mostly seven, eight, and nine-figure brands.<br/><br/>For an edited and condensed transcript with embedded audio, see: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/ecomfuel-founder-on-2026-industry-trends<br/><br/>For all condensed transcripts with audio, see: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/tag/podcasts<br/><br/>******<br/>Practical Ecommerce helps online merchants improve with expert articles, podcasts, and webinars. Founded in...
My Ideal Second Business
<p>Molson Hart is the founder of Viahart, a D2C toy brand, and Edison, a legal technology company. He says every entrepreneur should own two businesses, where one offers more opportunities to scale, is more profitable, or diversifies risk.<br/><br/>I'm all in on Beardbrand, my own D2C brand launched in 2014. Molson is a two-time guest on the podcast. His comment got me thinking about an attractive second company, one that would enhance my life without creating stress and headaches.<br/><br/>So in this episode I'll depart from my typical interviews and, instead, describe my ideal...
Content Beats Design, Says CRO Pro
<p>Dave Diederen is the founder of Syntra, a Netherlands-based conversion rate optimization agency. He encourages ecommerce brands to test product pages, ads, and, well, everything. </p><p>He says merchants often prioritize their sites' aesthetics over copy and content, a big mistake. "Content and copy play a very big role in conversions, if not the biggest," he states.<br/><br/>In this episode, he shares conversion wins, product and home page tactics, A/B strategies, and more. <br/><br/>For an edited and condensed transcript with embedded audio, see: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/content-beats-design-says-cro-pro<br/><br/>For all condensed t...
Ditch the Discount, Says Brand Marketer
<p>Since 2013 Cherene Aubert has managed, advised, and executed ecommerce marketing campaigns. She's worked for agencies, merchants, and as a freelance consultant. Her D2C advisory firm, Growth Capital, helps scale premium, high-growth brands.<br/><br/>Experience guides her advice. Brands are too quick to discount slow-moving products, she says. Bundles or buy-one-get-one offers are often better. Higher-priced goods typically appeal to existing customers, not new ones. Influencers drive acquisition.<br/><br/>She shared those views and more in this episode. <br/><br/>For an edited and condensed transcript with embedded audio, see: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/brand-strategist-ditch-the-discount<br/><br/>F...
How Vessi Sells Waterproof Shoes
<p>Ray Hua is the director of ecommerce at Vessi, a Canada-based direct-to-consumer seller of waterproof sneakers. The brand launched in 2017 after its founders developed and patented breathable fabric that repels water. Ray joined the company in 2021.<br/><br/>In this episode, he shares the challenges of targeting the right audience, cross-border selling, diversifying, and more.<br/><br/>For an edited and condensed transcript with embedded audio, see: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/how-vessi-sells-waterproof-shoes<br/><br/>For all condensed transcripts with audio, see: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/tag/podcasts<br/><br/>******<br/>The mission of Practical Ecommerce is to help online...
From Teacher to Fashion Brand Founder
<p>In 2019 Nasrin Jafari was a middle school teacher in New York City. She had no ecommerce experience but was drawn to creating and building, which led her to sew and sell face masks during Covid.<br/><br/>Fast forward to 2026, and Mixed, her direct-to-consumer fashion brand, designs and produces female apparel and accessories. Referring to the company's launch, she says, "I had no idea how to make clothes." </p><p>She does now, with multiple manufacturers, a thriving community, staff, and eager customers.<br/><br/>She shares her impressive story in this conversation. <br/><br/>For an edited and c...
How a Pro Writer Uses AI
<p>Kaleigh Moore is a 12-year freelance writer and editor. She has contributed to Shopify, Forbes, Vogue, Adweek, and various B2B providers, among others. She's now grappling with the promise and limits of AI.<br/><br/>She calls AI a "fire hose of information" that greatly increases efficiency. She also cautions on what it cannot do, such as interview humans or learn from experience.<br/><br/>She shares those views and more in this episode, including her preferred AI platform, use cases for entrepreneurs, and getting started with AI-driven composition.<br/><br/>For an edited and condensed transcript with...
Beardbrand's Top Ecommerce Tools in 2026
<p>Occasionally on the podcast host Eric Bandholz departs from interviewing guests to share his own experiences running Beardbrand, the D2C company he founded in 2012.<br/><br/>In this episode, he addresses his favorite ecommerce tools in 2026, 18 platforms and apps essential to his business — from foundational site infrastructure to solutions for marketing, operations, creative, and more. <br/><br/>For an edited and condensed transcript with embedded audio, see: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/beardbrands-top-ecommerce-tools<br/><br/>For all condensed transcripts with audio, see: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/tag/podcasts<br/><br/>******<br/>The mission of Practical Ecommerce is to help onli...
Ecomm Cowboy Talks AI and Underdogs
<p>Chris Hall is an ecommerce entrepreneur turned media operator. His new "Ecomm Cowboy" show broadcasts live Monday through Friday on X and YouTube. The mission, he says, is twofold: deliver daily news to sellers and offer companionship to those working alone.<br/><br/>Chris first appeared on the podcast in 2023 as the marketing head of a D2C brand. In this our latest conversation, he addresses his goals for Ecomm Cowboy, production challenges, and, yes, the power of AI tools for one-person brands.<br/><br/>For an edited and condensed transcript with embedded audio, see: https://www.practicalecommerce.com...
Save Time by Managing Less, Says DHH (Encore)
<p>Please enjoy this repeat of a popular episode first aired in September 2024.</p><p>David Heinemeier Hansson is the creator of the Ruby on Rails software framework, the co-founder of Basecamp, a member of Shopify's board of directors, an investor in multiple tech startups, a racecar driver, and a family man with children. He's a modern-day polymath.<br/><br/>Yet his workday calendar is not full of appointments and meetings. He abhors managing employees and attending meetings. His is a maker's schedule, he says, with much uninterrupted time dedicated to solving problems he cares about.<br/><br/>In this...
